From the web edition of The Australian Online
[http://www.australian.aust.com/cgi-bin/news2?story=n08]:
Ex-Black Panther vows to fight expulsion
By LEISA SCOTT, MEGAN SAUNDERS and KEVIN MEADE
July 9: A US black activist will fight his deportation from Australia in
the Federal Court today after the Government yesterday revoked his
visitor's visa and jailed him on the ground that he was not of good
character.
The action against former Black Panther and convicted hijacker Lorenzo
Ervin followed the intervention of John Howard, who said on Monday he
was "quite horrified" that someone like Mr Ervin had received a visa,
and he had "taken some steps to have something done about it".
Mr Ervin's solicitor, Terry Fisher whose firm is also representing
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in his battle with Australian immigration
officials said he would request that Mr Ervin be allowed to stay in
Australia while the case was considered.
The decision to expel Mr Ervin drew an angry retort from Mr Fisher, who
said his client had been "treated in a very shabby fashion by the
Australian Government" and the deportation action was an attack on free
speech.
"The reality is that John Howard is deciding for us and groups in
Australia, political groups, who we can talk to," Mr Fisher said.
"That's what's at stake. It's an authoritarianism of the worst kind."
Mr Ervin was convicted in 1969 of hijacking a plane to Cuba and was
jailed for two life-terms at the age of 19. He was released on parole in
1983, and in 1988 was granted clemency. He was invited to Australia by
the anarchist group Angry People, and his visit follows a six-week tour
of the UK.
Mr Ervin, who was being detained at Brisbane's Arthur Gorrie
Correctional Centre last night pending a bail application, maintained he
had not falsified his visa application.
However, in announcing the decision yesterday, acting Immigration
Minister Amanda Vanstone said he had not answered a question regarding
criminal convictions on his Incoming Passenger Card.
"It's disturbing that he didn't answer the question, and it should have
been picked up," Ms Vanstone said.
"Section 501 of the Act provides a broad and comprehensive discretion to
cancel a visa, including the grounds that the holder is not of good
character because of their past criminal record."
Prior to his meeting with immigration officials in Brisbane, Mr Ervin
said he believed Mr Howard's response to his visit was a reaction to the
growing power of One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson. "I think it's
for specific political reasons, to make me a whipping boy and to keep me
from being able to speak to the Aborigines, but also to be able to
prevent me from going back from here and talking about what's
happening," Mr Ervin said.
He said he would file a complaint with the US consul about his treatment
in Australia and lobby for a boycott of the Sydney Olympics by black US
athletes.
"I think that within the political establishment there is a certain
hysteria over this case I don't think this is because they really
figure that I'm going to incite violence or that I am bringing weapons
in," Mr Ervin said.
"I think it's because they know I'm an international critic that has
access to international media."